THIRD TRIAL

[whimsicalism]

To the court room. Make it quick, alright? I don't really know about any of you but I don't want to waste more time on a couple of bratty teenagers.

[The Queen still is silent as you descend to the court room. There are ten less of you than when you began. The podiums look empty as you go to them. Even if the podiums are getting empty, though, there is a new jury box near the Alices that is rather full... of ghosts of all the participants of the previous round you've discovered and of your dead compatriots. They don't talk but they're there. Judging. Always judging.

There is someone who doesn't notice this addition, though. Queen Alice.

The Queen is quiet but she's next to the Cat. Her head is bowed to her chest as she seems to sleep quietly. Then as movement she jolts up, smiling vaguely as she nods.]

Yes, a tea party--that's what we...need...

[Her head drops back to her chest as she falls asleep again. The Cat glances at her then back at the crowd with agitation.]

Someone is responsible for Lena and Neku's deaths. Do something about it, will you? Why did you even bring one of those ghosts in with you, anyway?

Comments

[soverainty]

[There isn't dirt or clay, but there is some sand between the folds.]

I wore these to the party yesterday. Didn't seem worth it to dress up again for this shit.

[There's also sand on her shoes, but the trace amounts you'd expect from someone who had to beat sand off their shoes yesterday.]

[prescience]

Did you have trouble sleeping last night? I'd at least have thought you'd have changed to get into bed.

Or maybe you did change?

[Is the sand wet at all, or any like, water indicators or places that suggest kneeling? Is her PSP soggy (this is a joke, maybe).

Actually as she gets closer to look at this, Oriko says, a little quietly,]

I do hope you'll deign to answer my question from earlier. Which part was the "pain in the ass"?

[soverainty]

Changed to get to bed, changed to get out of bed. What, you never recycle outfits in a murder castle?

[She has not carried her PSP into this hellhole, and while the sand is dry, as she gets closer she may notice something unusual about her hair ribbons. If she's looking very closely, that is.]

Mmm? All of it. I was really hoping this sector wasn't going to get caught up in the mess.

[prescience]

[She is like basically murmuring in her ear at this point so yes. The ribbons let's goooo.]

Indeed... You were really concerned about looking out for us. That's why you volunteered to lead. [We all know that everything Yuniko says is a lie! Even...]

I don't know...maybe it didn't make you angry at all. You might not mind being a playing piece.

[soverainty]

What is it with you guys and personal space? Huh??

[Niko does move back a half-step, eyeing Oriko but unwilling to back off totally -- but the way one hair-ribbon moves is a little stiff. If you look super closely: there is the smallest dark patch on it, near where the hair is bundled.]

I didn't volunteer. I just felt like playing house for a while -- but it's my game. I'm not here to be a playing piece for anybody else.

[prescience]

Oh, my, I thought it was fine since I wasn't a boy.

[She won't move forward again when Yuniko steps back, but - ]

Take your hair down, please? I'll give you my hair tie, if appearance is a big concern.

please hold for one moment

[soverainty]

It's fine up to a point, you--

[It's kind of legitimately indignant, possibly she does have an actual thing for personal bubbles of some kind, but then she reflexively reaches up for her hair ribbon and--

Hm. Her expression shifts, ever so slightly, when she touches the stiffness of it.]

Ha. Hahaha, is that where we're at now?

[She'll snatch the ribbon -- actually both of them -- and yank them off with no fanfare. A few flakes of something dark fall from her hair as well. She stares at them on the floor for a moment and then rolls her eyes.]